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Presenter Information

Description

This presentation discusses the creation of a Javascript bookmarklet that can be used in any browser to execute a search of library resources from any web page. Many user searches begin with searches on the internet, often in Google and Wikipedia. For users to search the library resources, they first need to locate the library website, find the appropriate search tool or database, and then execute their search.

The library at Stevens Institute of Technology is currently undergoing a trial of the Ebsco Discovery service, a federated search tool which integrates library catalog data. To make it easier for students to search the library resources, we created a Javascript bookmarklet that eliminates the step of having to go to the library website first before searching. The bookmarklet provides an important bridge between common search behaviors (especially among undergraduates), and the "deep web" content located in library-funded, proprietary databases, thus easing their transition into scholarly research. The bookmarklet can be dragged-and-dropped into any browser, after which a search can then be initiated from any webpage the user visits. When the bookmarklet is clicked, the search terms default to the title of the page, and a prompt is displayed that allows the user to change the terms. When they press the OK button, the search is automatically executed in the Discovery tool and the results are displayed in a new browser window.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Valerie Forrestal is Communications & New Media Strategies Librarian at the SC Williams Library, Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ).

Start Date

17-3-2011 10:45 AM

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Mar 17th, 10:45 AM

Bridging the gap from Wikipedia to scholarly sources: a simple discovery solution

This presentation discusses the creation of a Javascript bookmarklet that can be used in any browser to execute a search of library resources from any web page. Many user searches begin with searches on the internet, often in Google and Wikipedia. For users to search the library resources, they first need to locate the library website, find the appropriate search tool or database, and then execute their search.

The library at Stevens Institute of Technology is currently undergoing a trial of the Ebsco Discovery service, a federated search tool which integrates library catalog data. To make it easier for students to search the library resources, we created a Javascript bookmarklet that eliminates the step of having to go to the library website first before searching. The bookmarklet provides an important bridge between common search behaviors (especially among undergraduates), and the "deep web" content located in library-funded, proprietary databases, thus easing their transition into scholarly research. The bookmarklet can be dragged-and-dropped into any browser, after which a search can then be initiated from any webpage the user visits. When the bookmarklet is clicked, the search terms default to the title of the page, and a prompt is displayed that allows the user to change the terms. When they press the OK button, the search is automatically executed in the Discovery tool and the results are displayed in a new browser window.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Valerie Forrestal is Communications & New Media Strategies Librarian at the SC Williams Library, Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ).